Community welcomes new superintendent Jon Detwiler

FREMONT - Parents, students and Fremont City Schools' board members welcomed new superintendent Jon Detwiler Monday, as the district prepares for the first day of school less than a month away.

Adorned in a purple tie to match Fremont Ross High School's school colors, Detwiler shook hands with and greeted community members at Fremont Middle School at a reception

"The community has been overwhelmingly supportive," Detwiler said.

School starts for Fremont City Schools students Aug. 29.

Detwiler's arrival as superintendent is not the only new administrative hire in the district, as Fremont City Schools see some new faces come in for the 2017-2018 school year.

Susan King, the district's director of human resources and community relations, said Fremont Ross High School will welcome new principal Brian Zeller, as well as new assistant principals Robert Chevalier and Christine Oravets.

King said Susan Graywill take over as Washington Elementary School's new principal.

District-wide, about a dozen new teachers will start their first year in Fremont later this month, King said.

Detwiler started Aug. 1, replacing Traci McCaudy after she announced her retirement as superintendent in January.

He said McCaudy had helped him make a smooth transition into the FCS superintendent position.

McCaudy and community leaders successfully pushed for passage of a $58.6-million levy in May's primary election to build four new elementary school buildings and a new Ross High School with an auditorium.

More than 55 percent of voters voted yes on the levy, according to the Sandusky County Board of Elections.

Detwiler said the majority of questions he's faced from residents have dealt with the new buildings and the process involved in the construction of those facilities.

After the levy passed in May, McCaudy said the process to design and construct the new buildings will be similar to what FCS did in 2008, after voters passed a levy to fund a new Fremont Middle School building.

McCaudy said that the district expects design on the new elementary school buildings to take a year, with the new high school's design taking 18 months.

Estimated construction time on the elementary school buildings is 18 months, with the high school taking two years.

The superintendent said that once the district hires an architect and construction manager, the timeline for design and construction will be more specific.

She said the district's goal is to have the new buildings ready for the start of the 2021 academic year.

At Detwiler's reception, FCS administrator Denice Hirt said everyone in the district was excited about Detwiler's arrival and the introduction of the other new leaders and staff members at the schools.

School board president Shantel Laird said she was pleased with the turnout at the reception, held in one of the middle school's classroom areas that serves as the district's boardroom.

She said Detwiler had an opportunity to meet with the district's leadership team after he officially took over as superintendent.

"He's incredibly knowledgeable and incredibly personable. It's a great blend in a leader," Laird said.

dacarson@gannett.com

419-334-1046

Twitter: @DanielCarson7

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New Fremont City Schools Superintendent Jon Detwiler, middle, greets well wishers during a welcoming party Monday evening.(Photo: Molly Corfman/The News-Messenger)